To be economically sustainable, farmers need to make more money with their crops than they
spend to grow their crops. They are able to do this by using very large machinery that can cover
large parcels of land as they seed and harvest their crops. They also need to add fertilizer to the
soil to increase the yield and irrigate to provide the need moisture for growth of the crop. Most
farmers only grow one type of crop in one particular area - this is known as monoculture.
Please research the following considerations needed in agriculture for our discussion. You will need to add your links to videos and websites on a shared Google Doc:
Discussion Topic 1: Fertilizers
- Fertilizer Use on farms
- Components of typical fertilizers - How to read fertilizer package - to use or not to use fertilizers
Discussion Topic 2: Irrigation
- what is irrigation and when to use it
- different types of irrigation techniques for crops (farming, agriculture, etc)
Discussion Topic 3: Clearing The Land
- how have ways to clear the land for farming changed over time?
- clearing the land can cause salinization. What is this, why does it occur (Brayden showed us this at dry island buffalo jump), and how can the problem be corrected?
- What are some best practices in farming?
Discussion Topic 4: Saving the Soil
- how can soil erosion be prevented through farming practices?
- What is zero tillage?
- What are shelterbelts for? Has anyone seen them near red deer?
spend to grow their crops. They are able to do this by using very large machinery that can cover
large parcels of land as they seed and harvest their crops. They also need to add fertilizer to the
soil to increase the yield and irrigate to provide the need moisture for growth of the crop. Most
farmers only grow one type of crop in one particular area - this is known as monoculture.
Please research the following considerations needed in agriculture for our discussion. You will need to add your links to videos and websites on a shared Google Doc:
Discussion Topic 1: Fertilizers
- Fertilizer Use on farms
- Components of typical fertilizers
- How to read fertilizer package
- to use or not to use fertilizers
Discussion Topic 2: Irrigation
- what is irrigation and when to use it- different types of irrigation techniques for crops (farming, agriculture, etc)
Discussion Topic 3: Clearing The Land
- how have ways to clear the land for farming changed over time?
- clearing the land can cause salinization. What is this, why does it occur (Brayden showed us this at dry island buffalo jump), and how can the problem be corrected?
- What are some best practices in farming?
Discussion Topic 4: Saving the Soil
- how can soil erosion be prevented through farming practices?
- What is zero tillage?
- What are shelterbelts for? Has anyone seen them near red deer?
Discussion Topic 5: Growing without soil
- How can we grow plants without soil?